Photosynthetic bacteria spin spider silk for the masses


A little genetic engineering and a special recipe allows photosynthetic bacteria to mass-produce super lightweight spider silk for use in manufacturing.

What’s that smell? The advantage of sniffing


Rhythmic sniffing boosts phase-coded neuronal signals in the mouse olfactory bulb that allow odors to be identified.

Nanopores in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and the origin of life


“Naturally occurring selective nanopore ion channels in deep-sea hydrothermal vents are similar to ion channels found in cells and could help explain the origin of life.

Japanese people are a mixture of three separate ancestral groups


A new study shows that the current Japanese population is derived from 3 ancestral groups, one of which brought Denisovan DNA to the party.

Protons are lighter than previously thought


A new and most precise measurement of protons shows that they are lighter than previously thought.

Strong emotions plus non-REM sleep equals longer-lasting perceptual memories


Perceptual memories linked to positive emotions, such as joy or happiness, are strengthened during sleep, specifically during periods of deep non-REM sleep.

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Self-assembly of spider silk

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Freedom from fear ?‍♀️


Researchers discover a dopaminergic circuit in the brain that allows fear associations to disappear when there isn’t anything to be afraid of anymore.

Dopamine reduces beta-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease


Increasing dopamine in the brains of AD model mice led to increased neprilysin, which broke down amyloid-beta plaques and improved memory.

Plant peptide spells relief from salty stress


Newly discovered plant peptide hormone can be used to protect plants from excessive environmental salt.

How an herbal medicine protects against inflamed bowels


A Japanese herbal medicine promotes good bacteria and innate immune cells in the gut, which protects against intestinal inflammation.

COVID-19: Changing the way we do research


COVID-19 series — Part #4: Team Leader Aki Minoda from RIKEN IMS talks about how the pandemic has affected the way we work.

Cubes of brain tissue allow drug discovery without animals


Modeling the blood-brain-barrier with brains-in-a-cube allows drug testing without the need for animals.

Talking science Illustration with Misaki Ouchida


Whether it’s bird anatomy or science cartoons, Masaki Ouchida can do it all. She spoke with us about her career in science illustration, from the US to Japan.

Transgenic plants ??on acid survive without water


Scientists designed transgenic plants that survive drought-like conditions by bumping up acetic acid production only when water is scarce.

How does gravity affect antimatter?


Scientists find that antimatter reacts to gravity the same way that regular matter does.

Why (mouse) mothers take risks to protect their infants


The calcitonin receptor and its ligand amylin act in the brain to motivate mouse mothers to protect their pups, even in risky/dangerous situations.